Wilson denies hushing up resignation

Jane Kay, OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Published 4:00 am, Monday, April 17, 1995

1995-04-17 04:00:00 PDT CALIFORNIA -- Gov. Wilson did not keep the resignation of a political appointee quiet in order to avoid an embarrassing situation before last November's election, according to a spokesman from the governor's office.

Sean Walsh, a spokesman for the governor, said Sunday that published reports Wilson had hushed up the resignation of Charles G. "Jerry" Westlund Jr. from a parole board until after Nov. 8 were false.

President Trump addresses nation after mass shooting at Florida SchoolWhite House

However, the resignation was not effective until Nov. 9, one day after the election, the paper reported.

Westlund was "absolutely not" instructed by anyone in the California Department of Corrections or the governor's office to hold off on his resignation to spare embarrassing Wilson before the election, Walsh said.

"As to why the resignation was dated Oct. 8, 1994, but the effective date was Nov. 9, I don't know," Walsh said.

The Contra Costa Times reported that an unnamed 29-year-old woman has charged that four days after Westlund approved her parole from the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, he asked her on a date. In his car, he tried to force her to perform sexual acts, she said.

Westlund, a longtime Republican supporter appointed by Wilson to the $33,500-a-year position on the board, acknowledged that he arranged to meet her. But he denied the woman's other allegations.

Westlund told the newspaper, "I didn't want to cause embarrassment to Pete Wilson. I have the utmost respect for him and I'm not going to put him in an uncomfortable spot."

Walsh said, "Clearly in any situation, you have people who make mistakes.

"The important thing to note is that when a lack of judgment was used, when a mistake was made, this person was removed from his position expeditiously, regardless who the individual was."

The paper also reported that Greta Mehta, the wife of Wilson's top ethics watchdog, was appointed to a $33,500-a-year state job and continued to receive pay while on a three-month maternity leave.